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Denver applies for funds to house unaccompanied Central American kids

Children sleep on the concrete floor of a holding cell Wednesday at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility in Brownsville, Texas. (Eric Gay, The Associated Press)

The City and County of Denver and Denver Human Services submitted a federal grant application Tuesday to provide temporary shelter and support services to the unprecedented wave of unaccompanied children coming to the United States from Central America.

If awarded the grant, the Denver Human Services Division of Child Welfare, in partnership with Denver Health and Lutheran Family Services, would work through the Family Crisis Center to provide temporary shelter for up to 60 unaccompanied children.

"We are faced with a humanitarian crisis. This city has never shied away from doing what's right, and this is the right thing to do," Mayor Michael Hancock said in a news release. "Denver is a welcoming, compassionate city, and we will not turn a blind eye to children in need — no matter where they come from — if called upon to help."

Two young girls watch a World Cup soccer match on a television from their holding area where hundreds of mostly Central American immigrant children are being processed and held at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Nogales Placement Center. (Ross D. Franklin, AP)

Two other entities in Colorado — Ariel Clinical Services based in Grand Junction, and Rite of Passage, which runs a youth services center in Watkins — were expected to also apply for the federal grants by the deadline. Neither returned phone calls asking to confirm their applications to provide services for unaccompanied youths had been submitted.

An estimated 62,000 young immigrants have crossed the border into the United States in recent months, many to seek asylum as they escape gang violence and poverty in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

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They have been housed on military bases and at state, municipal and private facilities around the country. Since Jan. 1, more than 30,000 of the minors have been placed with parents, relatives or sponsors while they await court dates to determine if they meet asylum requirements.

Three of the military facilities were closed recently or are being phased out in the coming weeks as the federal government seeks less costly facilities through the grant program. The facilities also aren't needed as the number of youths crossing the border decreases.

If Denver is selected to receive grant funding, most of the unaccompanied children who would come to Denver are expected to remain in the custody of the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement/Division of Children's Services between 30-35 days. Some may have a longer or shorter length of stay.

The grant requires that, in addition to a place to stay, services will include case management, education, family reunification, counseling and medical and recreational activities.

The federal money ensures that no city resources are used to administer these services under this program.

"Denver has a strong refugee resettlement network that has been placing refugees from areas of international conflict since 1980," said Executive Director of Human Services Penny May. "Denver is equipped to help in the capacity we can, and we are ready and willing to do so."

Housing of the unaccompanied minors has led to ugly confrontations in some parts of the country. Anti-immigration groups have stopped buses of youths and threatened boycotts of facilities where youths are housed.

In Denver, civil and elected leaders have come together in support of Denver's efforts to secure the grant.

"I am proud that Denver is stepping forward and helping to deal with the refugee children along our southern border. Denver's city agencies and nonprofits have the capability to help keep these kids safe as they go through the legal process here," said Rep Diana DeGette, D- Colo.

Denver City Council member Deborah Ortega said, "I have received encouragement from the faith community and many Denver residents, and this gives me certainty that Denver is doing the right thing."

"There are those who would like to paint this humanitarian issue as a divisive one. To them, I say it is divisive, because it divides love from hate. These are children. And they need our love and compassion," said Rudy Gonzales, Executive Director at Servicios de la Raza.

The Colorado Council of Churches is also supportive of the effort.

"We at the Colorado Council of Churches believe that providing housing to immigrant children who arrive in this country alone is the morally just thing to do," said Adrian Miller, Executive Director with the council.

Ana Mostaccero with Denver Human Services said 90 percent of the input she has received has been positive. She said it has come from those wanting to volunteer or donate to help the immigrants.

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